It’s often hailed as a playground for grown-ups, but Sin City contains some hidden gems that engage the whole family. From educational museums to dizzying rides, these attractions are the closest Las Vegas comes to Disney without actually replacing Elvis with the Mouse.  And everything is conveniently within a vicinity from McCarran International Airport.

The Obvious Choice: Circus Circus

Circus Circus is impossible to miss, what with its neon clown signage and big top design. Inside the structure lie “Five Acres of Indoor Fun,” including a crowd-pleasing Marvin the Martian 3D spectacular. What’s even more enticing is the fact that an all-day pass to the Adventuredome’s rides is only $14.95 for the juniors. While many of the attractions better suit bigger kids with stomachs of steel, little ones can still ride the Merry-Go-Round and Frog Hopper.

Kid-Friendly Restaurant: GameWorks

The result of a partnership between Steven Spielberg and Sega, GameWorks is like a high-tech Chuck E. Cheese for the advanced kid. It’s housed conveniently on the Strip, next to the MGM Grand, and adults can entertain themselves at the chain’s well-stocked bars and pool tables. Really, anywhere that features both House of the Dead 4 and “Xtreme Nachos” is bound to be a big hit with the whole family.

Let Them Eat Sweets: Ethel M.’s Chocolate Factory

The perfect stop on your way from the Strip to the Hoover Dam is Ethel M.’s, a Vegas mainstay that offers free self-guided tours. Kids will enjoy watching all the Wonka-esque factory processes as much as the resultant treats, and parents will appreciate the sculptural chocolate displays and gourmet samplers. To burn off all the sweet stuff, take a walk through Ethel’s adjacent Botanical Gardens.

Weird Science: the Lied Discovery Children’s Museum

This innovative museum promises to school your offspring in the fields of “arts, sciences, nature, music and humanities” while simultaneously entertaining them through interactive and engaging displays. Featuring such diverse holdings as a full-size Clifford the Big Red Dog and a hands-on exploration of the lives of refugee children, Lied promotes fun and cultural awareness in equal measure. It’s the perfect place to pass a particularly hot afternoon and is consistently named one of Vegas’ best attractions.

Family Nightlife: the World’s Greatest Magic Show

Cirque du Soleil may hold a virtual monopoly on compelling casino shows, but its performances might prove a little explicit and strange for the younger crowd. Kids are better off at the Greek Isles Hotel and Casino, where the family-friendly magicians’ showcase takes place every evening at 7 p.m. A rotating cast of magicians assure that no one gets bored. The clincher for parents: admission to the show is free for kids under 12.

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The following list of family attractions in Niagara Falls is an excellent tool to help you pick and choose the best activities for you and your family as you visit the Niagara Falls area.

Journey Behind the Falls

As long as you’re at Niagara Falls you should really take advantage of everything there is to see and Journey Behind the Falls is a great way to do that. The thunderous roar of the falls creates an air of excitement and thrill as you travel deep behind the curtain as the Horseshoe Falls crashes 13 stories above you. Elevators take you down 150 feet through rock to the Cataract Portal and the Great Falls Portal and then you’ll get to take in the view from the upper and lower observation decks. It’s an awesome spectacle as one fifth of the world’s fresh water is crashing around you. In the summer months you’ll get a free souvenir biodegradable rain poncho to protect you from the spray of the falls. But it’s the winter months that make this a remarkable sight you’ll never forget as the mist freezes into spectacular ice formations.

Maid of the Mist

Another great way to experience all that Niagara has to offer is by taking a ride on the Maid of the Mist. Not only are you getting the chance to experience the falls in an up close and personal way, but you’re also taking a ride on North America’s oldest tourist attraction which has been in operation since 1846. The tour runs past the Canadian docks to the base of the American Falls, on to the basin of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls. This thrilling ride is only open during the summer months and you can expect to get a little damp.

Niagara Falls Aviary/Bird Kingdom

Another historical landmark, the Bird Kingdom is housed in the old Spirella Corset Factory from 1907, one of the first poured concrete buildings ever made in Canada. The building went through a few transformations until 2000 when it grew an extension and became the Bird Kingdom. The huge collection of aviary friends is an awesome sight for guests of every age. There are a variety of areas to explore including the small aviary, nocturnal birds, java house, a reptile zone, a macaw market and much more. If you’re looking for a deeper experience, there are a number of programs that give you in depth information about the birds at the Niagara Falls Aviary including encounter, educational and specialty programs and there is a free flight bird show that everyone should experience.

Butterfly Conservatory

After the roar and pulse pounding excitement of Niagara Falls the soothing calm and gentle beauty of the Butterfly Conservatory is a welcome reprieve. More than 2000 dazzling tropical butterflies flutter through the exotic greenery. Spend your time meandering through the paths in the rainforest setting which includes a pond and a waterfall. Make sure you take time to examine the Emergence window where butterflies leave their pupae to emerge and take flight. A great way to cap off a day at the falls.

Marineland

Moving from the air to deep beneath the sea, Marineland is an exciting adventure park for the entire family. Whether you’re looking to be entertained by trained creatures from the sea, seeking an educational experience or hoping for a wild ride, you’ll be satisfied by your experience at Marineland. Perhaps the most adorable animal on the entire planet is the beluga whale, at Marineland you get the rare opportunity to interact with a beluga whale at a feeding and touching experience, if you ask me, this is worth the trip alone. In addition to a beluga whale exhibit there is a killer whale area which includes regular splash and jump performances. For more shows, the King Waldorf Stadium Show gives an exciting presentation with dolphins, sea lions, and walruses. In addition to many marine mammal and interactive animal exhibits there are a number of very exciting amusement park rides that you can ride over and over again.

Niagara Skywheel

For an unusual amusement park ride with a view that simply cannot be beat the entire world over, the Niagara Skywheel offers both. The Niagara Skywheel is one of the tallest Ferris wheels in North America at 175 feet. The view encompasses both the Horseshoe and American Falls and the surrounding Niagara River area. The cabins are completely enclosed and climate controlled so it’s not as frightening as it appears on first glance and on a clear day you simply will not believe the beauty that surrounds you.

Skylon Tower

Love the view from the top? Then head over to the Skylon Tower for a different view of the American Falls and Horseshoe Falls, the Great Gorge, Niagara wine district, and the city skylines of Buffalo, New York and Toronto. The glass enclosed exterior elevators take you up the breathtaking tower in only 52 seconds, showing you more of the sights as you go. Once there, you can find a photo op at the indoor/outdoor observation deck. Atop the tower are two revolving restaurants so you can sit and enjoy the view from 360 degrees as you take in a fine dining experience.

Whether you’re visiting the falls from the Canadian side or the American side, it’s an incredible experience that will leave you with a deeper appreciation of the awesome wonder that Mother Nature has to offer, with a total height of 176 feet and more than 150,000 gallons of water traveling per second, its one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. Not just for couples seeking romance, the falls and surrounding area has something to offer everyone from historical and natural wonders to manmade fun and excitement.

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( photo credit: fogonthedowns)

If you go to San Francisco, you will want to travel across the biggest icon of the city, the Golden Gate Bridge.  Other locations and things to see and do when planning a trip itinerary are cable cars, Alcatraz Island, China Town and all of the Victorian gingerbread architecture.  Of course, you’ll have a meal at one of the award winning restaurants on Fisherman’s Wharf.  Any of us older folks who grew up in the 60’s will want to stop by the Haight-Ashbury district to reminisce. These will all be at the top of the list.  However, there is so much more for your family to do and see in this city on the bay.

Aquarium of the Bay will be the talk of your trip mostly because of the 300 feet of clear tunnel, “Aquarium Adventure,” where your children will marvel at the amazing sea life that comes directly from the San Francisco Bay.  Keep a look out for the Monkey-faced Eel, Bat Rays and Rockfish  When they find out they will be able to actually touch small sharks and stingrays, it will be all you can do to contain them.  They offer a family entrance price which gives this destination a gold star for the budget.

Fisherman’s Wharf is a destination all on it’s own with a marketplace of over 100 shops, 14 restaurants and many hotels with direct views of the bay. Wharf icons, the sea lions, are always present and fun to watch.  After enjoying the many activities, stop by one of the fresh seafood restaurant and order the famous Dungeness Crab.

Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker offers free tours of their factory with a request for you to be a chocolate tester.  This will both be an educational trip as well as just plain fun and delicious.  They do request that children be 10-years-old or more and all must wear closed toe shoes, so no flip-flops.

Cow Palace is the famous host to many concerts, tradeshows, exhibits, sporting events and conventions.  When you are considering family entertainment, the Cow Palace is an excellent place to start.  They offer entertainment such as the Monster Truck Show, Rod and Custom Motorcycle Show and the Golden Gate Kennel Dog Show.  If you are visiting in late November to mid December you may enjoy the Great Dickens Christmas Fair held on four consecutive weekends.

Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum has been a Fisherman’s Wharf landmark for 40 years.  It hosts eleven complete galleries displaying the odd, the unusual and the down right weird in life. See Robert Ripley’s pranks of nature such as the two headed calf or the display of a complete cable care made of nothing but matchsticks. They all fit into the different galleries entitled:  Strange People and Odd Animals, Weird and Wacky Art, Tribal Artifacts, The Orient, Witches, Vampires, Ghosts and Graveyards and Modern Wonders.

San Francisco Zoo features over 1,000 different animals including exotic and endangered species. Their Grizzly Gulch houses two Grizzly Bears.  Visit the African Savanna habitat the Gorilla Preserve, Koala Crossing, Penguin Island, Lemur Forest as well as the Australian Walk About with red kangaroos and emus.   If you have small children, the Children’s Zoo has a separate entrance so you can start in an age appropriate area.

Submarine USS Pampanito has been restored to near perfection.  The World War II submarine offers tours that will allow visitors to imagine themselves living in the closed quarters without any natural light.  The sea vessel housed 80 met for weeks, sometimes longer, during the war.  It is now considered a National Historic Landmark.  The submarine is open daily for visitors at a minimal fee.  A great history lesson for kids.

San Francisco Botanical Garden Society in Golden Gate Park lets you walk through rainforests as though you were in Central America, New Zealand and the Mediterranean.  It’s just the beautiful calm you need after several days of wild fun.  The botanical garden is always changing, offering new things while keeping the ever present appearance.  Open every day, admission is free although they do accept donations.

Riptide Arcade at Pier 39 is an overload of video games, prize games and virtual reality experiences.  The 10,000 square feet of computerized fun includes games such as NBA Blitz, Crazy Taxi, Daytona Twin, Harley Davidson Deluxe, Lost World Deluxe and many, many more.  Or try your hand at some old fashioned Wheel of Fortune or Hoops.  The whole family will find a day full of fun here.

Carnival San Francisco is a celebration of ethnic differences through a festival held Memorial Day weekend.  Don’t miss the parade on Sunday.  If you don’t already know how to dance the Salsa, Samba, Tango, Merengue, Hip-Hop, Calipso, Cha Cha Cha, Mambo, or the Cumbia, learn all the steps during the festival.  Enjoy the traditional ethnic food, crafts, art and entertainment.  See the special events and services in the health, drum and soccer pavilions.

Presidio of San Francisco, a former military base, is a world of fun in the form of a national park and recreational destination.  For the purist at heart it offers miles of hiking and walking trails among historic and architectural treasures. Of course, every family member will delight in the natural surroundings by the bay.  If you are visiting San Francisco during the Christmas season, don’t miss the tree lighting ceremony.  Open daily, year round, there is no entrance fee and most activities are also free of charge.

Family Fun in San Francisco

Perhaps the real gem of San Francisco is it’s multicultural life.  It is as if all the counties of the world truly are gathered together in the melting pot of this city.  Certainly you can find any ethnic food as well as good old fashioned American food here.  Entertainment of many lands can also be found here.  The town truly caters to the visitor’s every want and need.  When anyone in California says they are going to “the city” it is instantly known they are speaking of San Francisco.  Depending on flight itineraries and prices, San Francisco is easily accessible from either SFO, Oakland or San Jose airports.

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They are:

Everland in South Korea: Having just celebrated its 30th birthday, Everland has been going strong for a couple of generations of Koreans. It takes a bit from all cultures and features fun like Halloween and Christmas parties as well as a Euro Festival.

Tokyo Disneyland in Japan: In fact, it’s not that different to the original Disneyland, it’s just that there are a lot more Japanese people there. Tokyo DisneySea is next door along with a huge hotel complex.

Disneyland Paris in France: As for Tokyo Disneyland, but there are a lot more French visitors, and Europeans in general since it’s quite centrally located.

Disneyland in California: The usual suspect. Like all Disneylands, it is constantly getting new rides and attractions, and almost 15 million visitors come by each year.

Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Florida: Attendance here beats the Californian Disneyland, with around 16.6 million visitors in the last year.

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(cc: photo credit: axax100)

Griffith is open every day from 6 am to 10 pm and has much more to offer the public than just the iconic symbol of the celluloid industry. With over 4,000 acres of natural terrain covered with California oak trees, walnut, lilac wild sage, manzanita and of course the chaparral, it’s a beautiful flowing landscape bursting with activities.

The Autry National Center holds The Museum of the American West and chronicles the lives of the people, their culture and the events that helped shape modern day California. Exhibits span the evolution of the entertainment industry, local artists, the “Old West”, cowboys, the gold rush and more.

The Greek Theater is LA’s premiere outdoor theater and features an ever-changing line up. The wide variety of performers offer a little bit of everything and a little bit of magic.

Griffith Observatory has been a world leader in public astronomy since its opening in 1935 and features exciting shows in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium, public telescopes and other displays the bring the heavens to earth.

If you’re more interested in exploring the outdoors then you can rent a bicycle and design your own work out. For a more nostalgic touch take a tour through Griffith Park from the back of a horse. Or visit the wildlife at the LA Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

Griffith Park is an oasis of nature in the heart of the hustle and bustle of Hollywood.

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(photo credit flickr cc)(photo credit flickr cc)